Last year 26,386 people decided to become members of Full Gospel Central Church. Membership records show over 75% of this number to be new converts, becoming Christians as a result of the evangelistic thrust of this 75,361 member church. Evident in the content and format of weekly home cell unit meeting, in the fervent prayers for believing family and friends, and in the smiles of newly committed Christians, the emphasis on personal evangelism at Central Church is undeniable.

Research information gleaned from interviews, questionnaires and observation revealed several themes and practices. Central to beliefs explored was conviction that the message of salvation was meant for proclamation, not preservation.

SUNDAY MORNING SERVICE

Four services are held Sunday morning: the first at eight for early risers and busy schedules; then multiple services at ten, twelve and two o'clock. Members are strongly encouraged to bring non-Christians with them, the attendance of an unbeliever often climaxing weeks of prayer and personal witnessing by a Christian friend.

Those completing decision cards are enrolled in a correspondence course on the basics of Christian belief. Information from these cards is then given to appropriate cell unit divisions. Before the week is over a pastor or lay leader will phone or visit each new convert.

Last year 8,190 persons filled in faith decision cards. One-third could not be located because of improper or inadequate address. Of those the church could locate, 82% decided to become members of Central Church.

THE HOME CELL UNIT

A vast network of more than 5,000 neighborhood home cell units form a basis for membership care, and an avenue for personal evangelism.

Weekly Bible Study. Held in a home and headed by a lay leader, each cell unit has a weekly Bible study. Unbelievers from the surrounding community are invited. Exposure to Bible teaching is followed by a series of personal testimonies. Prayer is made for the needs of all present. Unbelievers return home with thoughts of Christ, and His relation to their daily lives.

Home Visitation. Following the weekly meeting many home unit members venture into the vicinity, inviting others to attend Sunday morning service and cell unit meetings. Throughout the week visits are made to the homes of cell unit members and interested unbelievers. In the home's relaxed atmosphere of familiarity, casual conversation over coffee can provide opportunity for an effective sharing of the Gospel Message.

ATTITUDES

The focus during these services and meetings is not on the use of any specific method of personal witnessing but rather on the attitudes and principles.

A Matter of Priority. Perceived importance is a large factor in determining the frequency of a specific activity in one's life. Asked to rate the importance of personal witnessing in the Christian walk on a scale of one to seven (one indicating little importance, seven paramount importance), cell leaders averaged a 6.6 rating.

This reported priority carried through in action. Questioned about the number of people they witness to, cell leaders designating a definite number averaged witnessing to three people every week. Some unit leaders even apply the usage of divine-inspired goal setting. During 1979 in the Anyang district, Deaconess Soon Ja Pak plans to be instrumental in winning 100 families to Christ.

Readiness. Vital to effective personal evangelism is an attitude of readiness. One lay leader told of his unique approach: "When in a bath house (sauna) I look for those who complain of neuralgia. Then I share my testimony of how God healed me, and how He can heal them. I have found this approach to be 100% effective." Whether in the marketplace, on the street, at the corner drugstore or in a bath house, a posture of readiness can turn a daily exchange into a divine encounter.

Boldness. One must not only be ready, but also bold enough to speak the words that will spark interest in the Savior. An attitude of boldness is closely linked with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit: "Allow us, your servants, to speak your message with all boldness... When they finished praying, the place where they were meeting was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak God's message with boldness" (Act's 4:29-31, TEV). Special Wednesday afternoon services and weekly home unit meetings provide times when the boldness and the baptism of the Holy Spirit are actively sought through prayer.

Affiliated with F.G.C.C. since 1960, Dr. John Hurston commented, "I have found that the most effective lay leaders are those filled with a keen awareness of the Spirit's role in their lives. Filled with the Holy Spirit, they have a burning desire to tell what God has done for them, sharing the Good news with great boldness."

Prayer. More than an activity, prayer is an attitude, a mental posture of preparedness and petition. Members are taught to let prayer permeate every aspect of their encounters. Silent prayers for wisdom and insight precede the sharing of personal testimony. Throughout the week unbelievers become the subject of prayer. In private devotions and in cell unit meetings. Lay leaders and some entire home cell units periodically go to Prayer Mountain, the church's prayer retreat, to fast and pray for the unbelievers in their communities.

Tactful Persistence. Since the Gospel is accepted more readily by some than others, an attitude of tactful persistence is vital. Said one member, "I continue witnessing to a person until I get some kind of positive response. Then I continue with home visitation." A cell unit leader relayed this story: "My father was a notorious sinner. For years members of my family prayed he would become a Christian. In July, 1974 he finally made a commitment to Christ. Everyone could see the change conversion made in his life. The peace now in our family has made our home the envy of the neighborhood.

RELEVANCY

Prominent in conversations with F.G.C.C. leaders and members was the reiterated theme of message relevancy. All that is said and done during a personal witnessing encounter should in some way relate to the life of the believer.

Need Orientation. Need provides a point of contact, an excellent chance for personal evangelism. Head of one of Seoul's nine cell unit districts, Rev. Jung Bong Lee, told of an approach used widely at F.G.C.C.: AChristians are taught that wherever they are, they should keep their ears open. If they hear of someone sick, discouraged, jobless, with marital or familial conflict, they should visit that person, and tell him of the problem-solving Christ."

According to one leader the purpose of this visit to the needy is to "plant a seed of faith into their hearts." A member who visits the sick said that she "prays for those who are ill. Many not only are healed, but come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ." At times a home cell unit will even pool members' resources to meet the need of those more destitute.

Establishment of Rapport. Questioned about the personal witnessing approaches F.G.C.C. uses, Pastoral Care Director, Rev. Sang Ho Kim replied, "One should develop a rapport with the person he wants to witness to, maintaining a posture of love and service. Give that person a glimpse of the loving, need-meeting Christ in another. On that basis share the Good News of the Gospel."

When Christians do visit needy neighbors, many make a practice of bringing flowers or fruit, tangible evidence of care and concern. One unit leader reported making a weekly list of interested unbelievers. The cell unit member closest to a specific unbeliever's house was asked to bring him to church the next Sunday. This allowed the development of rapport between the two, involving hesitant members in the process of evangelism.

Personal Testimony. In an interview, District Head, Rev. Jung Bong Lee emphasized, "Knowledge has increased to a sophisticated degree. The kind of personal witnessing where you say, 'God loves you', then quote a few scriptures, is just not enough. Find someone with a need, then share your personal testimony, your personal encounter with God. That kind of personal witnessing is powerful, that kind of personal witnessing relates."

One-third responding to a recent questionnaire wrote that the best results in personal witnessing come with the sharing of one's personal testimony. Respondents also traced three benefits of personal testimony: 1) it pleases God; 2) it creates an atmosphere of expectation in unbelievers; 3) it increases and strengthens our faith. One member put it succinctly when she remarked, "I tell others what God has already proven to me in my life."

Family Emphasis. The importance of family context to the individual is crucial. To consider the individual as a solitary unit is to error, making home visitation a wise practice.

Through practical experience the woman of the household has come to gain particular importance. Because of her position of gentle influence in the family, there is a saying at F.G.C.C.: "If you can win the wife to Christ, you can win the entire family." Once one member of the family becomes a believer, the remaining unchurched family members are considered potential Christians, the target of prayer and witnessing.

CONCEPT OF GOD

Basic to personal evangelism is a proper portrayal of God's nature, intentions, and our identity as His children. Speaking of the content of leadership teaching on personal evangelism, Pastoral Care Director, Rev. Sang Ho Kim pointed out: AIt is important to emphasize the fact God is a good God, desiring to richly bless people in all aspects of their lives. In III John 2, a three-fold blessing is stressed: prosperity, good health and spiritual soundness.

"It is thus man's true purpose to give glory to this powerful and good God. Only then can a man be complete and whole."

Witnessing for such a God is not duty, but a delight. In the words of one home cell leader, "God is powerful, giving us the answer to our needs. By witnessing we show Him alive and able, and give glory to Him. This pleases God."
 
 

Now as He walked by the sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net in to the sea: for they were fishermen. And Jesus said unto them, "Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men."

And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed Him. (Mark 1:16018)

Article copyrighted 1979 by "World of Faith" magazine, Spring 1979, Volume 1, No. 1, Pages 7, 10. This magazine is no longer published, but has been replaced by "Church Growth," available at P. O. Box 7; Seoul 150, Korea.